10 Creative Ways to Decompress

Sharing these 10 Creative Ways to Decompress after Christmas tips from Stampin’ Up! 

Hopefully you find a little inspiration for the hopefully quiet week ahead. That periods between the rush of Christmas and the ringing in of the New Year. Working away at 1. and 6. with a break for 3 throughout! 

1. Create a “Cozy Craft Corner.”

Tidy one tiny area—10 minutes max—and turn it into your happy spot for the week.

2. Do a “Leftovers & Layouts” Afternoon.

Use wrapping scraps or leftover Christmas cardstock for mini pages or tags.

3. Sip Something Slowly.

Tea, cocoa, fancy coffee . . . whatever your cup of cheer is. Sip it s l o w l y, like you’re trying to stretch December to 45 days.

4. Host a 10-Minute “Craft & Exhale.”

Set a timer, grab a scrap pile, make one tiny project, and call it good. It’s not about perfection; it’s about permission.

5. Practice the “Post-Holiday Slowdown.”

For one day, move at half-speed and enjoy the ease of it.

6. Have a “Treat Yourself Tidying.”

Clean your scissors, sharpen pencils, reorganize ribbon—something tiny that future-you will love.

7. Start a “Memory Jar” for 2026.

Decorate a jar and add your first memory slip for 2026. Add more all year long.

8. Make a “10-Minute Vision Board.

Clip, glue, scribble—focus on how you want to feel in the new year.

9. Try a “Digital Detox Daylight Hour.”

One hour, phone-free. Fill it with rest or creativity.

10. Set a “First Craft of the New Year” Date.

Choose a day (Jan. 1–3) for 30 minutes of pure creative fun—no rules.

Happy Stampin’

Margaret 

Live, Laugh, Love

Be Totallyawake4-life

Merry Christmas

Welcome and my apologies for having been absent for the last half of December. It was so busy around here with preparing for Christmas with the family and squeezing in visits to family and friends on the weekends who live too far away to see them today. 

Once all the Christmas gatherings are over I am so looking forward to being back full steam with time spent daily in the card room - my preorder goodies are calling too me to come show them some inky love  💕💕

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and looking forward to another wonderful New Year! 

Happy Stampin’

Margaret

Live, Laugh, Love

Be Totallyawake4-life

Tea Light Fun Fold

Welcome to another edition of Fun Fold Friday. Today I am sharing a cute tea light fold.

My colour palette was inspired by playing over at Sunday Stamps. #SSC375 

I’m getting inky with Snowflake Kisses dies. Delicate Pines stamps and dies, Azure Afternoon, Pretty in Pink and Gorgeous Grape ink palette, Brutus Monroe Watercolor Galaxy paper, Rhinestones and a water spritzer.

The fold is an easy one that’s got a punch of WOW factor.

Once you’ve cut and scored your cardstock you want to cut a design in the centre of one piece for the light to shine through - I have used the Snowflake Kisses corner die but the possibilities are endless.

Then you can add your card insert to the front and back of the second base. For my inside card insert I have used Cloud Cover glimmer paper. On the back side insert I used Whisper White. 

Adhere your vellum to the inside of the card front. 

Next you want to glue the two card base pieces together by the outer score line section forming a rectangle. 

Then complete your design as desired. I have used glimmer paper and Brutus Monroe Watercolor Galaxy paper strips for the outer edges and than created a focal snowflake with Delicate Pines stamps and dies. I used the water spritz on the stamped snowflakes to give a muted watercolour look. I also sponged ink around the edges of the snowflake layers to soften the look.

I added my sentiment to the back of the card design with some snowflakes. 

So much fun - looks gorgeous in day light and when you turn on the tea light in the dark. 

Daylight:

In the dark with tea light turned on:

I decorated the back of design as well so it looks stunning from front and back giving more options for display. 

The flicker of the tea light turned on just makes it extra magical. And a little disclaimer - as this is made of paper you can only use a battery operated tea light not a real flame tea light. 🔥 

Happy Stampin’

Live, Laugh, Love

Be Totallyawake4-life

Throwback Thursday

Welcome to another edition of Throwback Thursday - a chance to play with goodies from my stash. My Design came together by playing along with a couple of challenges.

The sketch layout from over at A Cherry on Top.

AAA Colourful colour themed challenges Colourboard #22 Red and Gold and sparkly.

Festive Friday has a fun Inspo List challenge for National Candy Cane Day #FF0199. I have chosen to play with red, white and green, Traditional Christmas sequins, Candy Canes in my DSP, Christmas tree focal points and a Christmas Sentiment on the centre tree.

Getting inky with the retired Peaceful Pines and a candy cane DSP from my stash.  

Came together nicely. Love the Gold Foil accents with the pop of green.

Happy Stampin’ 

Margaret 

Live, Laugh, Love

Be Totallyawake4-life

Whimsical” Wings & Things Wednesday

Welcome to another edition of Whimsical Wings & Things. Today’s card design came together while playing with a few challenges.

My colour palette is thanks to TGIF Challenges colour challenge Real Red, Coastal Cabana and Granny Apple Green. #tgif554

Sketchy fun over at As You See It challenge #AYSI392

Just Add Ink word prompt Celebration #JAI775

Over at Festive Friday National Candy Cane Day #FF0199 word prompts I am incorporating Red, White, Green, Sequins and Christmas Sentiment 

I’m getting inky with the Traditions of Christmas DSP and sequins, Greeting for You ephemera and retired Winter 3D embossing folder, Bird Builder punch, 2 1/2” circle punch and gold twine.  

Final design is so cute - I used the Coastal Cabana maker to incorporate that colour into the plaid paper from the Traditions of Christmas DSP punched with the 2 1/2” circle and the gold twine circled around it formed a little “nest” for the Cardinal for this “Seasons Greetings.”

Happy Stampin’

Margaret 

Live, Laugh, Love

Be Totallyawake4-life 

Faux Flocking Technique

Welcome to another edition of Technique Tuesday. Today I am going to be sharing an oldie but a goodie “Faux Flocking”. 

I’m getting inky with some sneak peeks from the upcoming January-April 2026 mini catalog you can see the products in my unboxing video below. The Woolly Friends bundle is SO much fun … I’ve paired it with the Summer Splash 12x12 DSP from the January Online Exclusive. 

DETAILS

- 12 sheets: 2 each of 6 double-sided designs

- 12" x 12" (30.5 x 30.5 cm)

- Acid and lignin free (this product is photo-safe)

- Includes gold and iridescent foil

- Colours: Azure Afternoon, Balmy Blue, Bubble Bath, Daffodil Delight, gold, Highland Heather, iridescent, Lemon Lolly, Pool Party, Pretty in Pink, Shy Shamrock, Timid Tiger

The sneak peeks of the Lovely Stripes Embossing folder - think this one’s going to be a hot one like the mini corrugated folder from the summer. The All In A Row Embossing folder is just too adorable. I love the stripes, dots and floral combo. 

Also using the Everyday Arches dies, Triple Banner punch, Frosted Iridescent dots and Balmy Blue ink and marker.

 

Faux Flocking Tutorial 

You will need:

• Cheese Grater
• Scrap paper in colour of choice. I am using basic black and whisper white
• Container to hold your flocking 

It’s really easy to make. You basically take your scrap paper and fold it up into a square and than using the medium side of grater you go to town and grate the paper until you have the desired amount of flocking for your project. Easy peasy lemon squeezie! 

But how stinking cute are these little Ewes? I couldn’t resist giving them the wobbler head. 

Baa Baa White sheep how pretty is your wool? See why I felt that this technique was just perfect for this stamp and bundle set? So many colours of wool!  

The rest of my January-April 2026 sneak peeks can be seen here:

Happy Stampin’ 

Margaret 

Live, Laugh, Love

Be Totallyawake4-life 

Magical Monday Vibes

Happy Magical Monday! Today’s card design was inspired by playing along with a few challenges.

Colour palette was inspired by the Global Design Project #GDP525 - a gorgeous colour combo! 

I Chose to pull out the retired Kindest Gnomes stamps & dies in my stash thanks to the Inspired By challenge #IB365 

Try a Sketch on Tuesday had a fun layout to play with #TSOT684. Their sister site has a Double Trouble challenge of 3 colours and I am using Highland Heather, Cloud Cover and Lost Lagoon, 2 layers and 1 image which is my Gnomes. Twisted Sister challenge of adding in some silver twine. 

Getting inky with the retired Kindest Gnomes, Encircled In Nature dies, Evergreen Embossing folder, Greetings for All ephemera sentiments, Wink of Stella, Silver twine and Rhinestones.

Came together as a cute little “Best Wishes” card for a special someone’s birthday or other celebration.

Happy Stampin’

Margaret 

Live, Laugh, Love

Be Totallyawake4-life